Clayt Birmingham is back for his fourth season with the Hornets after coaching last year at NCAA Division I Western Michigan. He will coach primarily the defensive ends. Under his direction the Hornets defense allowed only 284.7 yards per game in 2003, the only time the Hornets have kept their opponents under 300 yards per game as members of the MIAA.

Previously: Birmingham spent 2000 at NCAA Division I Western Michigan. The Broncos were 9-3 and won the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. His duties included coaching the defensive secondary, film breakdown and defensive quality control.

In 1998-99, Birmingham was a graduate assistant receivers coach at Northern Michigan. He spent the summer of 1998 as the head coach of the Stockholm's Swedish National Championship team in the European Federation of American Football. Birmingham's first coaching experience was at his alma mater Wisconsin-Stevens Point from 1996-97 where he coached the secondary and outside linebackers, including the Detroit Lions 1999 sixth round draft pick Clint Kriewaldt.

He was an All-Wisconsin State University Conference defensive back at Wisconsin-Stevens Point.